Charles f



Aug. 11, 1925.

c. F. ERICKSON vEHIeLE WHEEL Original Filed Feb. 27. 1917 Reissued Aug.11, 1925.

UNITE-D STATES CHARLES lr. ERICKSON, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Original No. 1,251,358, dated December 25, 1917, Serial No. 151,285,filed February 27, 1917. Application for reissue led December B, 1919.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that SON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing atBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ot New York, have inventednew and useful Vehicle liheels, of which the following isaspecification.

This vinvention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels and more`particular-ly to the yresilient non-pneumatic class of wheels.

One object ot'the present inver-tion is to 'eect improvements in theconstruction of the tire and diaphragms by forming the diaphragmsdirectly with the tire and so that the diaphragms are permanentlyconnected to the tire.

Another object is to provide improved means for moving vthe disksrelatively to each other to tension the diaphragms and yto alsostrengthen and brace the wheel.

Another object is to yeliect in'rprovcments in the construction of 'thehub.

Another object is to e'iq'ect 'improvements in the construction of thetire and to provide the same with non-skid devices.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation partly in sectionof the wheel constructedr and arranged in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View ot' the same.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of an adjusting bolt.

The hub 1 is adapted to be mounted on an axle in the usual way, isprovided at the outer side with a. cap 2 and is provided at the innerside with an outstanding annular ange 3 which is L-shaped in crosssection.

l A pair of disks 4, 5 are arranged on the hub, said disks in practicebeing made of steel or other suitable material. The outer disk 4 has acentrally7 arranged collar 6 through which the hub extends and said diskis mounted for movement on the hub toward and from the outer endthereof. The inner disk 5 is bolted as at 7 to the front side of theflange 3 and said disk is crosssectionally angular as shown and fittedon said flange and is immovable.

The disk 4 has inwardly extending circular seats 8 at a suitabledistance apart and I, CHARLES F. Einen- 'seriai No. 343,423.

the disk 5 is provided at points opposite said seats with inwardlyextending interiorly threaded tubular portions '9. Adjusting bolts l()connect the disks 4 and 5 and engage the threaded openings of the latterdisk. VSaid bolts have stop flanges 11 which bear against the innersides of the seats 8. The bolts pass through yuinthreaded vopenings inthe seats so that said bolts are mounted in the seats for rotation butare retained against longitudinal movement with respect to the disk towhich they are rotatably connected, 4such movement being prevented bymeans of the stop `flanges 11 and lock nuts 12 carried by the bolts 10and disposed -respectively upon opposite sides of the seats 8.

The -tirel 13 embodies a ybody 14 which may be made of rubber'o'r of'any other suit able material and the tire is also provided with -aresilient rinror ring' 15 which is emv" bedded therein. Diaphragme 16which are pliable 'and which may be made of the same fabric -as the tireare formed integrally with the tire and are hence oermanently unitedthereto and are arrangec at the sides thereof. The diaphragms may bemade of one or more pieces of material as desired. The diaphragms havetheir .inner portions fitted in circumferential annular recesses in thedisks and are securely fastened to the disks as by means of rivets 17 orother suitable devices.

By adjusting the outer disk away Jfrom the inner disk, which may beeliected by first loosening the lock nuts 12 and then turning the bolts1() in the required direction by a wrench, the diaphragms may betensioned to any extent desired, after which the tension may bedecreased by turning the bolts 10 in an opposite direction in which casetheI tension already stored or built'up in the diaphragms is sufficientto effect relative movement of the disks 4 and 5 toward each other aswill be readily appreciated. The lock nuts when screwed in placeeffectnally secure the bolts. against casual turning'and hence thedesired tension of the diaphragms is maintained. The bolts also ef-Jfectually brace the disks and diaphragms and serve to greatlystrengthen the construction of the wheel without interfering with theresilience of the wheel. The diaphragms being flexible serve to absorbshocks received by the wheel and hence relieve the axle from excessiveshocks and consequently also the vehicle carried by the aXle. Bypermanently uniting the diaphragms to the tire the diaphragms arestrengthened and moreover the cost of manufacture of the diaphragms andtire is lessened.

The body or outer portion of the tire is provided With an annularcircumferential groove 18 and transversely arranged cross bars 19 whichare here shown. as integral, and Which serve to prevent skidding.

l/Vhile I have herein shown and described a preferred form of myinvention I would have it understood that changes may be made in theform, proportion and construction of the several parts, Withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and Within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is z* l. In a vehicleWheel of the class described the combination ol a hub having a flange, adisk secured to said flange, a disk mounted on the hub and movabletoward and from the lirst-named disk, adjusting bolts connecting saiddisks at points Without the hub, a tire, and diaphragms united to thesides of the tire and secured to and tensioned by said disks.

2. In a vehicle Wheel of the class described, the combination of a hub,a pair of disks thereon arranged for relative movement, adjusting bolts.connecting said disks, said bolts having threaded engagement With oneof the disks and being rotatably connected to the other, means forretaining said adjusting bolts against longitudinal movement vvithrespect to the disk to which they are rotatably connected, a tire, anddiaphragms united to and extending from the sides of the tire andsecured to said disks.

3. In a vehicle wheel oi the class de scribed, the combination of a hubhaving an outwardly extending annular flange at its inner end, a diskaround the hub, secured to said flange and provided at points Withoutthe hub With inwardly extending interiorly threaded tubular portions, anouter disk having a centrally arranged collar through Which the hubextends, said outer disk being mounted for movement on the hub towardand from the inner' disk and being provided with inwardly extendingcircular seats, a tire, diaphragms united to and-eX tending from thesides of the tire and secured to the disks, bolts connecting the disksand each engaging one of the tubular portions of the inner disk andbeing connected to one of the seats of the outer disk for rotation andmeans for retaining said bolts against longitudinal movement withrespect to the disk to which they are rotatably con` nected, said meansbeing in the form of stop flanges and lock nuts carried by said bolts onopposite sides respectively of said seats.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

CHARLES F. ERICKSON.

